The design of the VAZ 2114 chassis - rear and front suspension

• What's included in the rear suspension?
• Disassembling and replacing the rear suspension: instructions
• Front suspension device
• Disassembling and replacing the front suspension: instructions

A complete set of VAZ 2114 chassis elements

The chassis of the car includes two suspensions - front and rear. During operation of the machine, most of the load falls on the chassis. The quality and comfort of the ride, as well as the safety of the driver and passengers, depend on the condition of the front and rear suspensions. The main function of each suspension is to eliminate vibrations and soften the ride. Also, the tasks of the chassis include reducing roll when turning, ensuring a smooth ride, and providing high information content for the driver in the city and on the highway.

On the roads of the CIS countries, the chassis is subject to excessive load, since the condition of the road surface leaves much to be desired. As a result, motorists often turn to car service centers. Things are better with the VAZ 2114, since it has more modern systems compared to previous Lada models. Many motorists choose to solve the problem on their own. But in order to understand what has gone wrong, you need to know the suspension structure.

What's included in the rear suspension?

The image below shows all the main elements of the rear suspension that can fail.

Rear suspension diagram of VAZ 2114

1. The first part is a rubber-metal hinge, which is the main attachment to the car body.
2. A bracket used to secure the rear suspension arm to the body.
3. Shock absorber housing.
4. A buffer that takes the load from the compression stroke.
5. Casing cover.
6. Main support washer.
7. Shock-absorbing cushion.
8. Spacer sleeve.
9. Strut (shock absorber).
10. Insulation gasket.
11. Solid spring.
12. Connecting element for levers.
13. Beam lever.
14. Bracket for fastening the rack structure.
15. Flange.
16. Lever bushing.

The beam structure includes a connector and two trailing arms; these elements are indicated in the diagram as numbers “12” and “13”. The parts are fastened together by welding. In the rear part, flanges (number “15”) and brackets for attaching struts (shock absorbers) are attached to the levers. The axles of the rear pair of wheels along with the brake elements are screwed to the flanges. Bushings (16) are installed on the rear suspension arms at the front. They are fastened using rubber-metal hinges - number “1”. One end of the spring rests on the support through a rubber gasket, and the other on the shock-absorbing cup.

Final disassembly of the unit

To completely disassemble the suspension, you will need to unscrew the bolts securing the caliper to the steering knuckle. This is done with the key “17”. The caliper must be suspended in such a way as not to accidentally damage it or the rubber tube. After this, remove the tie rod end pin, treat the threads with penetrating lubricant and unscrew the nut. Using a puller, the tip is removed from the rack lever.

Then unscrew the three nuts that secure the support bearing to the glass on the car body. Using keys “19” and “17”, unscrew the two lower bolts securing the strut to the steering knuckle. Only then can you remove the entire rack assembly. By compressing the spring, you can completely disassemble the assembly and repair it. But you need to think about whether it is worth repairing the shock absorber. The cost of a repair kit is quite high; not everyone can do the work themselves. And installing a new rack is a matter of just a few minutes.

Disassembling and replacing the rear suspension: instructions

The main parts of the rear suspension are highlighted in color

A complete disassembly of the rear suspension is required if the motorist decides to lubricate all the parts or change them. Most often you need to get to a specific element and replace it. The parsing proceeds as follows:

1. The VAZ 2114 is installed under an inspection hole, or, as an option, on a lift. In the luggage compartment, the rear and side trims and the seat belt retractor are disconnected. Also in the luggage compartment there are fastenings for the racks to the car body. They need to be loosened; there is no need to unscrew them completely.
2. Next, the fastenings of the rear wheel pair are loosened. To do this, you need to remove the hubcaps and then completely dismantle the wheels. Reliable jacks should hold the car at this time; they are usually installed on each side.
3. Now it is necessary to dismantle the brake system cables. You need to get them assembled. To do this, the cable fastenings to the suspension arms and the body of the VAZ 2114 are disconnected. Afterwards, the brake drums are dismantled. The cable ends should be removed from the manual drive levers. You also need to disconnect the flanges from the brake flaps.
4. Before dismantling the hoses and pipes of the brake system, care must be taken to prevent leakage. Next, you need to dismantle the elastic drive lever, which is used to operate the brake pressure regulator. To remove the lever, you need to disconnect it from the bracket by removing the lock washer, then remove the shackle from the wheel axle.
5. The next step is to disconnect the struts (shock absorbers). To do this, remove the rubber cushions, nuts attaching to the body part and the washer. After this, you need to install additional stops for the front wheelset. The rear part should be raised. After this, you can remove the compression stroke buffers, springs and shock absorber covers.
6. If you disconnect the body mounting brackets, the entire beam can be detached. The rear suspension along with the struts will lie in front of the motorist. If necessary, you can disassemble the shock absorbers, which is no longer difficult.

   
   Components of the rear pillar of the VAZ 2114

IMPORTANT. The shock-absorbing spring must be removed using special ties. If they are not used, serious injury may occur as the iron spring is under high pressure.

Which racks are better to choose for VAZ 2114

Before choosing certain racks of domestic or foreign production, you must first decide what driving style is used and on what roads the vehicle is used.

• If the vehicle is driven within the city limits and it is important for the driver to move comfortably. It is for such car owners that oil struts on the VAZ 2114 model will be an excellent choice. They are mainly used as standard ones for all possible car models.
• After making a trip to a specialized store, the car owner ended up choosing oil racks - this will allow the vehicle to carefully overcome potholes. And when driving, the car will not start to shake, regardless of the road surface.
• For driving enthusiasts, gas oil shock absorbers are definitely suitable for finding a compromise between the speed limit and comfortable movement. They certainly do an excellent job with small bumps. And during acceleration they give the opportunity, the car becomes more rigid and obedient.
• These gas shock absorbers were specially designed for drivers who prefer an extreme type of driving. While driving, any car enthusiast will be able to directly feel all the existing road irregularities. And as a result, the driver will not have the opportunity to relax while driving the vehicle. It is, of course, worth mentioning that such a choice of car owners will negatively affect the body of the VAZ 2114 vehicle.

When choosing a manufacturer, you need to pay attention to high-class shock absorbers, which are in demand among knowledgeable people. But it is impossible to say with certainty which rear struts are best to choose and it is impossible to install on a VAZ 2114. But by purchasing spare parts from authorized dealers in auto stores, you can accurately obtain high-quality parts with a 100% guarantee on the purchased spare part. And when installing them, there will undoubtedly be confidence in the originality of the spare part.

Original stands for VAZ 2114

2108-2905001 and 2108-2905002 – original catalog numbers of front shock absorber struts for VAZ-2114.

The average cost is about 2000 rubles/piece.

Front struts

Rear pillars

Front suspension device

The main element of the front chassis of the VAZ 2114 is the shock absorber strut, which is designated as number “9”. It is attached to the steering knuckle with two bolts. Compared to the rear system, the front suspension has a more complex design, which can be understood by the number of parts. Number “11” indicates a bolt that passes through the holes of the rack bracket; it has an eccentric washer and an eccentric collar. When the steering gear turns, the top bolt turns. The result is that the car turns. Most often, shock absorber struts fail, since they do the main job.

Diagram and explanations for it

Repair of struts for VAZ 2114

The shock absorber is a very important element of the suspension, which takes the brunt of the shock. If these spare parts no longer cope with their immediate function, then they first need to be diagnosed. At the same time, you should not be too nervous if there is a creaking sound on the rear pillars, and the front pillars begin to leak. Today, manufacturers are increasingly installing racks on cars that cannot be repaired. Repairing such shock absorbers is difficult and only because of this they regularly perform the task assigned to them until the moment comes when they fail. Shock absorbers, since they are important spare parts, it is better not to skimp on them. But just simply replace it with new ones.

Disassembling and replacing the front suspension: instructions

1. The VAZ 2114 is installed on a viewing hole or raised on a lift. The car must be set to the parking brake. It is necessary to remove the wheel caps, loosen the mounting bolts and unscrew the hub nut. Having secured the front of the car, you can remove the front wheels.
2. Next, you need to remove the ball joint pin, which is located in the swing arm of the front strut. The next step is to remove the front stabilizer link (number “24”) from the front suspension arm (number “22”). Next, the stretch marks from the body (30) are removed. Next, you need to completely disconnect the ball joint that is attached to the steering knuckle.
3. Now you can remove the front suspension arm. To do this, you need to disconnect it from the body bracket (28). Afterwards the lever is removed along with the bracket and the extension (29, 30). It is also necessary to remove the bolts that secure the pads to the steering knuckle.
4. In front of the driver there will be a caliper assembly. To avoid problems with it, you do not need to completely remove it; you need to hang the caliper on a hook in such a way that there is no load on the main hose. The next step is to press the spline shank out of the front wheel hub.
5. From the side of the engine compartment, you need to remove the protective fist (“41”). To do this, unscrew the telescopic strut nuts and then remove the solid front suspension strut. It should be together with the wheel hub and steering knuckle. The other front suspension strut is removed in the same way. Next, the racks are removed from the rod.

   
   Removing springs using zip ties

When removing the bolts that secure the ball joint to the steering knuckle, you must use a socket wrench. Otherwise, the protective cover of the hinge may be seriously damaged, resulting in additional costs.

In the case of the front suspension, its assembly proceeds in the reverse order, with the exception of a few features. When installing the mounting bracket to the VAZ 2114 body, you need to make sure that the threads of the bushings are not damaged. To do this, you must perform operations carefully. Also, longitudinal displacement of the cushions on the bar must not be allowed. This can happen during installation of the anti-roll bar.

How to replace?

Usually the racks are replaced in pairs or as a whole. To do this, jack up the front of the car and remove the wheels. Next, release the rack from its mounting with the steering tip. Then unscrew the two nuts that secure the shock absorber to the suspension arms. The bolts are removed by hand from the reverse side. If they are rusty, you can use a hammer and attach a wooden block. Next you need to open the hood and loosen the upper fastening of the strut, which is in the cup.

In this case, you should hold the stand from below so that it does not fall. After this, the suspension module is removed entirely. A new element is installed in its place. Assembly is carried out in reverse order.